It’s been clear that we’re experiencing a new Golden Age of television for more than a couple of years now, and refreshingly original storytelling in serialized form doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon.  One of the more exciting projects on the horizon is HBO’s anthology cop drama True Detective.  HBO recently ordered eight episodes of the series, starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson as two detectives who are drawn into the 17-year search for a serial killer in Louisiana.  Cary Fukunaga (Jane Eyre, Sin Nombre) is onboard to helm all eight episodes of season one, and now they’ve found their female lead in Michelle Monaghan.  Hit the jump for more.

While at the HBO portion of the TCA Press Tour, President of Programming Michael Lombardo and co-President Richard Plepler took some time to talk about new and returning programming.  During the interview, they spoke about how long Game of Thrones and True Blood could run for, the status of the Entourage movie, their movie deal with Larry David and the affect that could have on future seasons of Curb Your Enthusiasm, their thoughts on the first season of The Newsroom, the possibility of a fourth season for Treme, and what viewers can expect from the Woody Harrelson/Matthew McConaughey series True Detective.  Check out what they had to say after the jump.

When we first heard about True Detective, an anthology cop drama whose first season will star Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, Anonymous Content was still shopping it around.  Adam wrote, “I’m selfishly hoping it lands on HBO.“  I have great news for you Adam, and readers—it did!  It did land on HBO!  THR reports the premium cable network ordered eight episodes for the first season, scripted by Nic Pizzolatto (The Killing).  McConaughey and Harrelson play two detectives who are drawn into the search for a serial killer in Louisana: “The investigation of a bizarre murder in 1995 is framed and interlaced with testimony from the detectives in 2012, when the case has been reopened.” Cary Fukunaga (Sin Nombre) will direct all eight episodes of the first season.  If True Detective is successful, the plan is to clean the slate in future seasons with a similar structure, but tell a new story with a different cast.  I am rooting for this and the American Horror Story season two reboot to work.  It opens up an exciting new model for American television—something more involved than a standalone miniseries, but still longform storytelling with a schedule suited for the likes of McConaughey, Harrelson, and Fukunaga.

Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey are teaming up for what could be one of the most exciting drama series in recent memory.  The two are set to star in the eight-episode first season of True Detective, with Sin Nombre and Jane Eyre director Cary Fukunaga onboard to helm all eight episodes.  The show is described as an “elevated serial narrative” that uses multiple perspectives and time frames.  Harrelson and McConaughey will star as two detectives “whose lives collide and entwine during a seventeen-year hunt for a serial killer in Louisiana. The investigation of a bizarre murder in 1995 is framed and interlaced with testimony from the detectives in 2012, when the case has been reopened.”  Hit the jump for more on the project, including how long Harrelson and McConaughey plan on sticking around.